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Tuesday, 14 January 2014

This pic is from the Mary Kay website (my product sample was very small and I was having trouble photographing it)

Today I am going to review a product sample (11 grams) that I received in my Velvette
Bag, now called Fabbag. It is the Mary Kay Extra Emolient Night Cream.Let us first look at what the brand says about this product:

Helps maintain the natural moisture
of the skin and replenishes hydration in very dry areas.

Excellent for dry patches, especially on hands, elbows
and feet.

Suitable for all skin types.

Clinically tested for skin irritancy and allergy.

Non-comedogenic (will not clog pores).

Hypoallergenic.

Factors like temperature, humidity, age and hormones can
upset the skin’s moisture balance. Experts recommend optimal moisturization for
all skin types to leave skin soft, smooth and youthful-looking. Mary Kay® Extra Emollient Night
Cream, a fragrant, translucent moisturizing cream, helps maintain the natural
moisture of the skin and replenishes hydration in dry areas. It is excellent
for dry patches, especially on hands, elbows and feet.

Application Tips

Apply a
small amount to clean skin after your regular moisturizer as needed (only
use in the evening).

How It Works

Key Ingredients

Petrolatum is an emollient
that helps to maintain the soft, smooth and supple appearance of the skin.

Product price: INR: 868/- approx. for 60 grams of product

Product Swatches:

After Blending

My Experience:

When I first saw the product in my Velvette/Fab Bag, I thought it was a night cream for the face!! When I opened the tube and squeezed some product out, I was a bit puzzled........ looked somewhat like vaseline. I then visited the Brand website and found the above description. Hmmmmmmm........ it really is petroleum jelly.... Guess what the Key ingredient PETROLATUM is defined by dictionaries thus:

petrolatum (ˌpɛtrəˈleɪtəm)

n

(Elements & Compounds) a translucent gelatinous substance obtained
from petroleum; used as a lubricant and in medicine as an ointment base
and protective dressing. Also called: mineral jellyorpetroleum jelly.

Pros:

1. All the benefits of petroleum jelly

Cons:

1. Really overpriced for being just that, Petroleum jelly

Product rating: 2/5, really only because it works just as well as Vaseline or any other brand of petroleum jelly. It loses 3 points for being so expensive!!

Will I buy this product? I've got my fav Vaseline, why should I bother with this?

I picked up this foundation from one of the Maybelline counters at a mall. The product comes in 5 different variants to suit different skin tones. The Sales Assistant (SA),suggested the Pure Beige Medium 2 would suit me. I wanted to try out the 2 shades next to this one but she insisted that Pure beige was the one. Indeed when she blended the product into my inner wrist, it blended in quite well (my kids were kind of going crazy in the background, so I didn't look too closely........should have). I happily bought the jar. As you can see in the picture that this comes in a heavy glass jar, that looks much larger than the actual product it contains.

Couple of days later I had a programme at my work place and I took it along with me so that I could apply it on my face just before the prog. Oh boy!! was I in for a shock!! I had this ghastly greyish cast on my face.......eeeeeeeeeeeekkkkkkkkkkk!! I had to wash it all off and manage with my Somi's Mint Moisturiser and compact.

The product had filled into the pores and cracks in the skin and looked horrendous!! Look!!

Can you see how the product got stuck on my nose?? well you might say that those are white-heads... then check this:

Can you see how the product kind of seeps into the cracks in the skin of my inner wrist?? It just refuses to blend in properly!!

Product Swatch

Initially when I saw the white cast on my face, I thought that the SA has given me the wrong shade. But when i tried it on my inner wrist, which is fairer than my face ............ but no luck. The product was wrong for me. Despite the white cast, it gives very poor coverage to skin imperfections.

Pros:

1. Nice, Sturdy packaging, easy to carry around in a purse.

2. Probably meant for younger skin with few imperfections.

3. Did not cause any skin irritation or break-out.

Cons (for me):

1. Didn't blend into my skin at all.

2. The product got stuck in the skin crevices.

3. Therefore leaves a white cast

4. hardly any coverage.

5. Overpriced for what it fails to do!!

Product Rating: 1/5. 1 because it just might be good for someone somewhere. Really my Rs. 600 down the drain!

Will I buy it again? Should I??

If you have used the product, tell me about your experience..............

Friday, 10 January 2014

I have been doing reviews for a couple of local brands like Arish, Somi's Ayurvedic Products of Keya Seth's Aromatherapy. There is another nice brand named Jovees which was launched in 2004, and has a whole range of skin and hair care products. But today I am going to review a brilliant product which I discovered (I am glad I did!). This is the Jovees Carrot and Anjeer Sunblock with SPF 45

I was travelling and had misplaced my regular sunblock. I desperately needed to buy one. I went to a local chemist shop and asked for a good sunblock and he gave me this. I had heard about Jovees off and on but I had never used any of their products. So I was skeptical. But I really had no choice. But what a pleasant surprise!!The Product is priced at INR 165/- for a 50g tube.

In the photo above you can see the product claim and method of use. Let us now look at the ingredients:Active Ingredients:

Ficus: It
acts as a very good skin cleanser and helps in prevention and curing of
skin problems like acne and pimples. It can also cure inflammations
like abscesses, warts and boils.

Daucus Carota or Carrot Seed Oil is a thin, yellow oil distilled from ground seeds is
rich in Beta-Carotene. Not only beneficial for mature skin, sun damaged
skin, or skin that is exposed to harsh weather conditions, it is also
valued for its soothing, relaxing properties. Part of its strength is
that it not only helps sun spots or other signs of age or damage fade
over time, but it also helps to prevent wrinkles from forming in the
first place!

Wheatgerm: Wheat germ oil has several properties that make it an effective way to
reduce damage done to the skin. Due to its high levels of antioxidants,
it has the ability to repair skin cells that have been damaged by the
sun, pollution or an unhealthy diet.It also reduces the appearance of wrinkles and can soothe sunburns.

Product Swatches:

After Blending in

After product application on face.

My experience:The product comes in a nice flip top tube, which can be carried easily in your purse. The dispenser allows you to control the amount of product you want, so there is no wastage. The texture is like a cream, as you can see in the swatch. The product has a gentle fragrance that disappears soon after application. It blends easily and has a nice, mattifying effect. Great for my oily skin. However, it does not leave the skin feeling dry and stretchy. I went for a week long village trip and spent most of the day out in the hot sun. When I got back people said I hardly had a tan. So great product! Pros:1. Nice, handy packaging.2. Mattifying effect on oily skin. 3. Oil free formula4. Does not over-dry skin 5. Water-resistant, so great for sweaty, humid weather.6. High SPF , with UVA+UVB protection.

7. Lives up to its claim of protecting skin from tanning, after blending in, skin looks nice and fresh.8. Reasonably priced. Cons:1. Not meant for those with dry skin, even though it says 'for all skin types' (checked with a friend with dry skin). However, you can mix it with a moisturizer of your choice when applying.2. Does not list all the ingredients.Product rating: 4.9/5. Only because its not really meant for all skin types.Will I buy this product again? YES, YES, YES. It is my Holy Grail Product!!!!!

Thursday, 9 January 2014

Somi Gupta's products have been around now for over 5 years and I have used a couple of them for about 3 years. I am fan of her Glow Fresh Face and Body Grains.Today I will be reviewing another of her products called Somi's Glow Safe Sunscreen Lotion. As I re-visited Somi Gupta's website, I dicovered that the packaging of the product has been changed. So the new Package is here:

The one I bought is so:

Product Claim:

Product Price: INR 140/- for 100mlList of Ingredients:

Neelotpala Patra: Is said to improve circulation, widely used in aromatherapy

Kur: Couldn't figure out what this is!

Chandan: Known for its cooling properties, great for oily, acne prone skin, reverses sun-damage to skin, anti-aging.

Benermul: Again don't know what it is.

sodium hydroxide: is an inorganic compound used to control the pH levels or serve as a buffering agent in cosmetics and personal care products

Carbomer: is used as a thickener and emulsion stabilizer

Propylene Glycol: is a humectant, which means it helps the skin to absorb moisture

Ethylene Glycol Monostearate: used as emulsifying agent in various face creams and cosmetic lotions

Light Liquid paraffin: is a very highly refined mineral oil used in cosmetics

Titanium Dioxide: It is an inert earth mineral used as a thickening, whitening, lubricating, and
sunscreen ingredient in cosmetics. It protects skin from UVA and UVB
radiation and is considered to have no risk of skin irritation

Then a bunch of parabens as preservatives.

Product Swatches:

After Blending

My experience with the Product:The product has a light foundation-like colour and texture, much like a tinted moisturizer. It glides well on the skin and is not too difficult to blend in. It has a nice gentle fruity, sandalwoody smell, but it goes away in a while. I have applied it regularly for a couple of months now and I have not noticed any more tanning than I usually get. My only issue is that it does not mention the SPF factor. But it seems in the neighbourhood of around SPF 15. Another point is that you are asked to re-apply every 2-3 hrs......... inconvenient , if you ask me. It also says nothing about being water or sweat proof, so what does one do during the hot, humid months?

Somi Gupta also has a couple of talk shows (on Bangla Channels), where she says that the product can be used as a substitute for foundation. In that sense it gives very little coverage. Lacto Calamine has better coverage than this. However, Glow Safe does hold a face powder well. Pros:1. Nice Texture2. Does not streak3. Easy to blend into skin4. Reasonable price5. Pleasant smellCons:1. Does not mention SPF factor2. Needs to be re-applied every 2-3 hrs.3. Does not give coverage like foundation as per its claim

4. Is not water or sweat proof

5. Not easily available outside West
Bengal

Product Rating 2.5/5

Mainly for its nice texture and easy blendability. If you are not looking for coverage and are not finicky about SPF numbers then you could go for it.

Will I buy this product again? No, with all the nice BB creams around...............

There are 2 ingredients which I couldn't quite figure out............I'd love you to tell me about them so this could be a complete review!Otherwise too,let me know if you find these reviews useful at all!! Leave your thoughts in the comment box below.See you!

I has used this product many years ago and was most unimpressed by it then. However, I have recently rediscovered the product which is now much improved! I recently received a mailer from www.medplusbeauty.com (I am a regular shopper on this site) offering flat 30% discount on Biotique products. I had used some of their other products and thought it would be nice to browse through again. I picked up a few things (which I will review later) but I wanted to hit the INR 600/- mark to avail of their free shipping offer. So I gave this product another go.And I am glad I did! This time round the product is so much better!

Product Claim:

Now to the real part. The product comes in a 120 ml plastic semi-transparent bottle with a green screw-on cap. The mouth of the bottle has a a small hole to dispense the product drop-by-drop so you needn't pour it out in a bowl or anything. You can directly apply a couple of drops at a time to your scalp.... very convenient! The bottle itself comes in a cardboard box and has a security seal, so you know the product has not been tampered with.

For 120 ml, the product is priced at: INR 159/- but I got it at 30% discount (the offer was on at www.medplusbeauty,com)Ingredients:

Mulethi: is used in hair care as it promotes the growth of hair according to
ayurveda. It is also believed to help keep the scalp moist and hydrated.
People with thinning hair can benefit from using licorice as it works
on the adrenal glands.

Pippali/laung: Said in ayurveda to be useful in controlling hairloss.

Kusumbhi Tail (oil)/safflower: it has the highest level of linoleic fatty acid available commercially. It is very beneficial to very dry flaky skin, excellent conditioner for dry scalp

Pudina/Mint: Mint acts as a cooling sensation to the skin and helps in dealing with skin irritations, therefore good for the scalp too.

Kachnar/mountain ebony: Has antiseptic properties and is said to promote hair growth.

My Experience with the Product:

When I first sniffed the product it was really pleasant..... the husband likes it too....... a minty-herbal-floral smell. The earlier product was very watery and runny, but this time it is more viscous. It is a deep burgundy colour . It is called a serum but its not meant for the hair shaft. It is supposed to be used on the scalp. the little hole on the top of the bottle is very effective and you can use the product directly from the bottle with zero wastage. I have a dry,itchy scalp with dandruff and the serum had an immediate cooling effect on my scalp. This pleasant sensation lasts till the scalp is wet, but the itchiness has definitely reduced. I usually apply the serum before going to bed and it definitely relaxes me. So the product most surely delivers on its promise of the scalp feeling "toned, exhilarated, free from dryness and irritation"!

It does not leave the scalp feeling oily. I don't have to wash off the product. It gets completely absorbed. I have seen no residue either on my pillow-case (I apply it before bedtime) nor on my comb ( I use a white one)As for promoting hair growth........ hmmm...... I don't know... is it because of my aloevera gel treatment or this, I definitely have some new hair growth. However, the product has not led to any more hair loss......... So that is good!Pros:

Nice packaging

Bottle dispenser is good and there is no wastage of product

Reasonably priced

Not too watery, a more viscous texture

Non-sticky

Does not have to be washed off or shampooed

No residue

Pleasant smell

Cools and reduces itchiness of scalp

I have definitely seen a reduction of dandruff

Has not caused me any hair loss

Easily available

No preservatives

Not tested on animals

Cons:

Not sure about new hair growth

Called a serum but does not control frizz, does not de-tangle hair

Overall Rating: 4.9/5 only because I am not sure of new hair-growth claim.

My experience: I liked the no-fuss packaging, however, the screw top cap seemed too loose (I hope it was only a one off and not all jar caps are loose!!). A great part is that it is ready-to-use paste, so its very convenient to carry around, especially when traveling and you don't always have a bowl to mix your dry packs in!I love to stick my nose in and sniff my beauty products and I liked the gentle sandalwoody smell. The consistency was good, not runny and not too thick........ very emollienty. However, it tends to dry out a bit over time. I put some rosewater into the jar to moisten it again. It spread quite beautifully over my face.

Application

After washing off pack. No make-up n nice glow!

I kept it on till it dried,which would be about 20 minutes. After washing off with plain water, this is what I got!! Lovely dewy soft glow. I am wearing no make up, not even a moisturiser. This photo was taken in natural light inside my room, facing the window, no flash.I just love how my skin feels after using it. The product advice is to use everyday, but I have used it only once a week to 10 days. I always use this when I have to go out for a special function. The make-up sits much better on my skin.Pros:1. Ready to use.2. Great smell 3. Good consistency 4. easy to spread on skin5. Does not dry out skin too much6. Gives a lovely glow7. Great skin pick me up before a party.8. Affordable. Lasts for about 3 months if used weekly.

Cons: 1. Packaging can be better.2. Availability outside West Bengal is an issue.

Overall Rating: 4.8/5, only because of availability issues, or else I would have given it a 5/5!!